Charter SchoolsNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Charter SchoolsWed, 07 Dec 2016 04:24:27 +0000Charter Schoolshttp://ripr.org
Elisabeth HarrisonCharter school expansion will be up for discussion Tuesday at the state Council on Elementary and Secondary Education. One proposal from charter management group Achievement First has generated objections in Providence. But the state’s education commissioner is backing the plan. State Education Commissioner Ken Wagner says Achievement First should get a green light for its plan to add more than 2,000 students over the next decade. Providence officials have warned this could hurt the city’s other public schools. That’s because millions of federal, state and local dollars would follow those students into the charter school. But Wagner says Achievement First has shown its students earn better test scores than the average in Providence schools. Wagner has recommended yes for this and two smaller charter school expansions. He’s called for the rejection of expansions at three other charter schools. State Education Officials To Consider Charter School Expansionhttp://ripr.org/post/state-education-officials-consider-charter-school-expansion
75986 as http://ripr.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 13:44:43 +0000State Education Officials To Consider Charter School ExpansionElisabeth HarrisonRhode Island Education Commissioner Ken Wagner is backing a plan to add 2,192 seats to the charter for Achievement First, a mayoral academy that currently operates two elementary schools in Providence. Wagner Recommends Approval For Achievement First Expansion, Denial For Some Othershttp://ripr.org/post/wagner-recommends-approval-achievement-first-expansion-denial-some-others
75867 as http://ripr.orgSat, 03 Dec 2016 01:19:22 +0000Wagner Recommends Approval For Achievement First Expansion, Denial For Some OthersIan Donnis Just a few weeks remain until 2017, a year bound to be filled with political drama. Thanks for stopping by for my weekly column. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome, and you can follow me through the week on the twitters. Here we go. 1. The gloves came off this week in a dispute between Providence Journal editorial page editor Edward Achorn and RI GOP Chairman Brandon Bell. The ball got rolling with a sharply worded editorial in Monday's ProJo -- headlined, "RI's Pathetic Republican Party" -- that faulted Bell for not running challengers in more legislative races and doing "a miserable job of creating a bench of talented officials who could be propelled into higher office." The editorial also rapped Bell for emphasizing Steven Frias' challenge to House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello. Bell responded with an op-ed in the Journal on Thursday. He said he was proud of the GOP's performance and accused the ProJo's editorial board of being pathetic "in its efforts to kowtow to RhodeTGIF: 22 Things To Know About Rhode Island Politics & Mediahttp://ripr.org/post/tgif-22-things-know-about-rhode-island-politics-media-19
75843 as http://ripr.orgSat, 03 Dec 2016 00:28:44 +0000TGIF: 22 Things To Know About Rhode Island Politics Elisabeth HarrisonAchievement First in Providence wants to add a third K-8 school and move forward with its plan to open a high school, and the Segue Middle School in Central Falls wants to add an elementary school. Those are just two of the charter school proposals on tap at the Rhode Island Department of Education. Just one new charter school has been proposed -- A high school in Providence slated to be called "Charette." The proposal touts a focus on urban planning and preservation, and an educational model that embraces "blended learning," a combination of traditional classrooms and online learning. The school organizers plan to partner with Johnson & Wales University. The proposal for Charette comes from Robert Pilkington, who designed the Village Green Virtual Charter School, another Providence high school that uses a blended learning model. Village Green opened its doors in 2013, and currently serves about 200 students. Achievement First, which currently operates two elementary schools out ofOne New Charter School Proposal, Several Plans For Expansionhttp://ripr.org/post/one-new-charter-school-proposal-several-plans-expansion
73442 as http://ripr.orgMon, 03 Oct 2016 21:38:26 +0000One New Charter School Proposal, Several Plans For ExpansionElisabeth Harrison Voters head to the polls Tuesday for primary elections in Rhode Island, and one of those primaries will fill a House seat formerly held by Ray Gallison. The Democrat resigned under a law enforcement probe likely to include legislative grants, given to an organization with Gallison on the payroll. Rhode Island Public Radio Political Analyst Scott MacKay discussed the race with News Director Elisabeth Harrison. RhodyVotes '16: The Primary Race For Former Bristol Rep. Ray Gallison's Seathttp://ripr.org/post/rhodyvotes-16-primary-race-former-bristol-rep-ray-gallisons-seat
72507 as http://ripr.orgFri, 09 Sep 2016 12:44:41 +0000RhodyVotes '16: The Primary Race For Former Bristol Rep. Ray Gallison's SeatElisabeth Harrison Education advocates say there’s a lot to like about the state’s new budget for public schools. That includes new funding for special education and early childhood education. But some advocates are concerned about the future of charter schools. For more on that, Rhode Island Public Radio’s Elisabeth Harrison spoke to Daniela Fairchild from the Rhode Island Campaign for Achievement Now, a group that advocates for charter schools and higher standards for all schools, among other issues. Impact Of Budget On Charter Schools Remains Uncertainhttp://ripr.org/post/impact-budget-charter-schools-remains-uncertain
70234 as http://ripr.orgTue, 19 Jul 2016 13:12:55 +0000Impact Of Budget On Charter Schools Remains UncertainNate MooneyThe House Finance Committee has changed the structure of payments made by local school districts to charter schools and mayoral academies. Governor Raimondo had proposed an across-the-board decrease in tuition payments made to charter schools, but the House committee voted to give municipalities more options when it comes to reimbursing the charter schools. In the House proposal, school districts can choose between a 7 percent overall cut in payments to charter schools, or a cut based on itemized costs in a series of categories, including transportation, textbooks and special education. "They can add up costs of several different categories of expenses that appear to be more unique to school​ districts than charter schools," said Tim Duffy, executive director of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees. According to Duffy, some districts could save more than 7 percent by itemizing their costs per pupil. Advocates of the change say public schools have a higher per-student costBudget Changes Charter School Fundinghttp://ripr.org/post/budget-changes-charter-school-funding
68427 as http://ripr.orgWed, 08 Jun 2016 15:49:42 +0000Budget Changes Charter School FundingIan DonnisState Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed joins Bonus Q&A this week to discuss charter schools, the outlook on ethics reform, her future plans, promoting green jobs, leadership at the state Board of Elections, and other issues. Bonus Q&A: Paiva Weed On Charters, Ethics, RI's Tourism Fiasco & More http://ripr.org/post/bonus-qa-paiva-weed-charters-ethics-ris-tourism-fiasco-more
66145 as http://ripr.orgFri, 15 Apr 2016 08:00:00 +0000Bonus QElisabeth HarrisonGovernor Gina Raimondo said Wednesday she would veto at least one bill designed to make it harder to open new charter schools. Speaking at an on-the-record lunch with reporters, Raimondo discussed a bill that would require local elected officials to sign off on new or expanding charter schools. Raimondo Vows Veto Of Bill Restricting Charter Schoolshttp://ripr.org/post/raimondo-vows-veto-bill-restricting-charter-schools
65745 as http://ripr.orgThu, 07 Apr 2016 14:35:02 +0000Raimondo Vows Veto Of Bill Restricting Charter SchoolsIan DonnisGovernor Gina Raimondo joins Bonus Q+A to discuss her jobs strategy, truck tolls, charter schools, whether RI should legalize marijuana, Hillary Clinton, and more. Bonus Q&A: Raimondo On Truck Tolls, Charter Schools, Marijuana & More http://ripr.org/post/bonus-qa-raimondo-truck-tolls-charter-schools-marijuana-more
62981 as http://ripr.orgFri, 05 Feb 2016 09:00:00 +0000Bonus QElisabeth HarrisonGovernor Gina Raimondo’s $9 billion budget proposal would increase funding for public schools and give a small bump to colleges and universities. Raimondo's Budget Offers Big Bump To K-12, Smaller Increase For Higher Ed http://ripr.org/post/raimondos-budget-offers-big-bump-k-12-smaller-increase-higher-ed
62919 as http://ripr.orgWed, 03 Feb 2016 16:02:25 +0000Raimondo's Budget Offers Big Bump To K-12, Smaller Increase For Higher Ed Elisabeth HarrisonThe House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare has passed a bill that would make it harder to open new charter schools in Rhode Island. The bill requires approval from the city or town council of any municipality that would send students to the proposed school. Current state law requires approval only from the State Department of Education. Charter school leaders have said the bill will curtail the growth of charter schools, especially those that serve multiple cities and towns. But some local school and town officials have raised concerns about the financial impact of charter schools. A recent report from a working group convened by Governor Gina Raimondo to review the way Rhode Island distributes funding to public schools, highlighted some inequities in funding. The report found that traditional public schools are providing some services that charter schools do not provide, including the majority of support for severely disabled students and screenings for preschool children. HEW Approves Charter School Billhttp://ripr.org/post/hew-approves-charter-school-bill
62336 as http://ripr.orgWed, 20 Jan 2016 23:41:14 +0000HEW Approves Charter School BillElisabeth Harrison The one that would require city and town councils to approve any new charter school, or the expansion of an existing charter school, if students from their communities could attend? Well, that bill is back on the agenda at the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee for January 20th. After a hearing this week, the bill was held for further study. Remember That Bill About Charter Schools?http://ripr.org/post/remember-bill-about-charter-schools
62120 as http://ripr.orgFri, 15 Jan 2016 19:32:18 +0000Remember That Bill About Charter Schools?Elisabeth Harrison A task force has reviewed the way Rhode Island pays for public schools and recommended some changes to Governor Gina Raimondo. The group met Thursday evening to finalize the report. The panel was formed amid growing concerns that charter schools draw too much funding away from traditional public schools. RIPR's Elisabeth Harrison reviewed a draft of the report and spoke with Morning Edition Host Chuck Hinman about some of the highlights. C: So what did this working group conclude about school funding in Rhode Island – are there inequities in the way the state is funding public schools and charter schools? E: The short answer is yes. The working group’s report points out that some students are more expensive to educate, specifically students who are still learning English and students who need special education services. The group is recommending that the state consider providing more money for students who need those services. And that would help school districts in particular becauseWorking Group Recommends Changes For School Fundinghttp://ripr.org/post/working-group-recommends-changes-school-funding
62084 as http://ripr.orgThu, 14 Jan 2016 22:06:15 +0000Working Group Recommends Changes For School FundingElisabeth HarrisonOn Wednesday the House Health, Education and Welfare Committee is scheduled to consider a bill that would require city councils to sign off on new charter schools, or the expansion of an existing charter school, proposing to serve students from their communities. A bill scheduled in the House Finance Committee would require education officials to study the financial impact of proposed charter schools and reject those that would hurt the finances of local school districts. Several measures related to charter schools came before lawmakers during the last session but never received final passage. Charter school advocates have said the restrictions would effectively halt the growth of charter schools, disappointing thousands of families whose children are on waiting lists for the schools. But some public school officials say they are facing financial pressure because of the money they send to charter schools when students attend them. Governor Gina Raimondo has asked a panel to review theCharter School Debate Returns To The Statehousehttp://ripr.org/post/charter-school-debate-returns-statehouse
62006 as http://ripr.orgWed, 13 Jan 2016 15:35:08 +0000Charter School Debate Returns To The StatehouseElisabeth HarrisonA judge has declined to stop a new charter school from opening in Woonsocket. City officials sought an injunction to block RISE Prep, a special type of charter school called a Mayoral Academy. They argued it would take taxpayer money away from local schools. Rhode Island Mayoral Academies Spokeswoman Katelyn Silva disagrees. “If there are small areas where we can tweak the funding formula to feel more equitable on all sides we are behind that 100 percent,” said Silva. “Until then, I do think that money follows the child is the fairest way to fund public education.” RISE Prep has enrolled 50 Kindergartners from Woonsocket, Burrillville and North Smithfield. Silva said uncertainty about whether the school would be allowed to open next week has been stressful for those families. "We hear from families all the time, we’ve been driving by the school and our child is just getting really excited about being a part of that," said Silva. "They’ve been doing summer reading and working togetherJudge Clears The Way For Mayoral Academy In Woonsockethttp://ripr.org/post/judge-clears-way-mayoral-academy-woonsocket
55704 as http://ripr.orgWed, 26 Aug 2015 14:43:59 +0000Judge Clears The Way For Mayoral Academy In WoonsocketElisabeth HarrisonNational education advocacy group Chiefs for Change has a new CEO, and he comes from the Ocean State. The group has tapped Rhode Island Mayoral Academies (RIMA) CEO Mike Magee. Magee, who co-founded RIMA with then-Cumberland Mayor and current Lieutenant Governor Dan McKee, will step down from the organization on September 1st. RIMA paved the way for the first mayoral academy charter school in Rhode Island, Blackstone Valley Prep. The school receives more freedom from state mandates than other charter schools. For example, mayoral academies are not required to pay prevailing wages to teachers, and they do not have to contribute to the state pension fund. Currently, there are two mayoral academies in Rhode Island, one in Providence and one in Cumberland. A third school is scheduled to open in Woonsocket in September. Rather than stand-alone charter schools, mayoral academies include multiple campuses with a goal to serve students from Kindergarten through the end of high school. They areMayoral Academies CEO To Lead 'Chiefs For Change'http://ripr.org/post/mayoral-academies-ceo-lead-chiefs-change
55391 as http://ripr.orgWed, 19 Aug 2015 17:09:52 +0000Mayoral Academies CEO To Lead 'Chiefs For Change'Elisabeth HarrisonThe newest mayoral charter school set to open in Rhode Island has picked a location in downtown Woonsocket. RISE Prep will start with a kindergarten class this fall and grow to include a middle school. This will be the first charter elementary school in Woonsocket. RI's Newest Charter School Set To Open In Woonsockethttp://ripr.org/post/ris-newest-charter-school-set-open-woonsocket
53282 as http://ripr.orgFri, 03 Jul 2015 13:29:39 +0000RI's Newest Charter School Set To Open In WoonsocketElisabeth Harrison Charter schools dodged a bullet, this month when Rhode Island lawmakers ended the legislative session without agreement between House and Senate bills that could have changed the way charter schools are funded and restricted their ability to grow. Rhode Island Public Radio’s Elisabeth Harrison asked Tim Groves, the head of the Rhode Island League of Charter Schools, whether he thinks public opinion is turning against charter schools. Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@ripr.org Is Public Opinion Turning Against Charter Schools In RI?http://ripr.org/post/public-opinion-turning-against-charter-schools-ri
53103 as http://ripr.orgTue, 30 Jun 2015 12:55:37 +0000Is Public Opinion Turning Against Charter Schools In RI?Elisabeth HarrisonAfter months of anticipation, the General Assembly failed to pass a single bill related to charter schools. That's good news if you're in the charter school world. It means lawmakers failed to reach agreement on bills that would place new restrictions on the expansion of charter schools and reopen the state funding formula to reduce money for charter schools. It's not such good news for many local officials and school district leaders. They led the charge, calling for local politicians to get a vote on new and expanding charter schools. That measure looked poised to pass, but lawmakers never managed to vote on matching versions. Then they abruptly went home for the summer. Another bill that called for a re-examination of the state funding formula also looked favorable, and it may be the way lawmakers go in the future. There seems to be widespread agreement that the formula can be improved to make funding more equitable for public schools. Finally, an effort to require the StateMuch Ado About Nothinghttp://ripr.org/post/much-ado-about-nothing
52990 as http://ripr.orgFri, 26 Jun 2015 23:30:01 +0000Much Ado About Nothing